Normal life possible for autistic patients - Gulf Times

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Normal life possible for autistic

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Published: Thursday, 3 April, 2008, 01:27 AM Doha Time

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Al-Rawi . symptoms treatable

By Noimot Olayiwola

THOUGH scientists are yet to know main causes of Autism Spectrum Disorders

(ASDs), a medical expert has said that a child with the disorder could

become " almost normal " if managed through some treatable causes.

Speaking to Gulf Times on the occasion of first Autism Awareness Day, Dr

Fadhila al-Rawi, a paediatrician at Rumeilah hospital, said the latest

research on ASDs has shown that if treatable causes, which could be

metabolic, generic or congenital in nature, are identified in an ASD patient

and treated successfully, such person could be perceived as normal.

Yesterday was the World Autism Awareness Day. It was designated by the UN

General Assembly on the recommendation of Qatar.

According to Dr al-Rawi, ASDs are a group of developmental disabilities

caused by a problem with the brain defined by marked social deficits,

specific language abnormalities, restricted, repetitive and stereotyped

pattern of behaviour and interest.

She stated that with medical evaluation to find associated or underlying

neurological, metabolic, genetic and immunological, heavy metal, dietary or

infectious causes of the disorder and proper management, further

disabilities like hypothyroidism (under-secretion of thyroid glands) could

be prevented.

" People with ASDs may have problems with social, emotional and communication

skills and they may repeat certain behaviours and may want to change in

their daily activities, " she explained.

She pointed out that there is usually nothing about how a person with an ASD

looks that sets them apart from other people, but they may communicate,

interact, behave and learn in ways that are different from most people.

" The thinking and learning abilities of people with ASDs can vary - from

gifted to severely challenged. Autistic disorder is the most commonly known

type of ASD, but there are others, including pervasive developmental

disorder - not otherwise specified (PDD-NOS) and Asperger Syndrome, " she

said.

Some of the ASDs signs she listed include when somebody is having trouble

understanding other people's feelings or talking about their own feelings,

not pointing at objects to show interest, not looking at objects when

another person points at them, having trouble relating to others or avoiding

eye contact and wanting to be alone.

Speaking on managing the disorder, she said: " In addition to early diagnosis

and therapy, the implementation of early behavioural intervention programmes

could also improve outcome in behaviour, functional and communication

skills. "

" We have been able to record success stories based on early diagnosis of

most of the cases and application of accepted tools of international

standards such as the Checklist for Autism in Toddlers (CHAT), Diagnostic

and Standard Manual of Mental Disorder of the American Psychological

Association - Revised (DSM IV-R) and the Childhood Autism Rating Scale

(CARS), " she said.

She said that from 2007 up to the beginning of March this year, the number

of ASDs children received in the clinic has reached 41, while there are 13

cases of autistic-like behaviours, including babies of three months, two

years and 14 years old.

About 75% of ASDs patients visiting her clinic have a very sharp

intelligence while just below 30% have mental retardation, she said, adding

that a considerable improvement has been seen in most of the cases.

While cautioning parents not to mixed autistic-like behaviours with ASDs, Dr

al-Rawi said parents should seek medical advice when they notice such traits

in their children, saying they can contact the children rehabilitation

clinic at Rumeilah hospital or Shafallah centre.

" The HMC's paediatric department has tied with Sickkids Hospital of Toronto,

Canada, and a Canadian team is training our staff, to further equip them for

the challenges ahead, " she added.

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Jimmy Kilpatrick

Special Education Advocate and Consultant

<http://www.specialedadvocate.org/> SpecialEdAdvocate.org

P.O. Box 17392

Sugar Land, Texas 77496-17392

832 814-7463

info@...

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